Words of the Week 04

Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc.

ASKEWadverb

Pronounced: ass-KEW

Meaning: Out of line or to one side.

Example: Jared’s house was leaning because one of the joints had gone askew.

* * * * *

MONOLITHnoun

Pronounced: MONO-lith

Meaning: Something resembling a great stone.

Example: Sir Larry is considered a pillar of strength by his friends and a hulking obstinate monolith by his enemies.

* * * * *

SKIRMISHnoun

Pronounced: SKER-mish

Meaning: A minor dispute or contest between opposing parties.

Example: Winston hopes that his skirmish with the neighbors over his dog does not foreshadow a lengthy feud.

* * * * *

CRESCIVEadjective

Pronounced: KRESS-siv

Meaning: Increasing or growing.

Example: The crescive vines traveled up the trellis.

* * * * *

GALVANIZEverb

Pronounced: GAL-vin-eyes

Meaning: To stimulate as if by the application of an electrical current.

Example: The enemy attack served to galvanize the government into immediate action.

* * * * *

ERUDITIONnoun

Pronounced: ay-rue-DISH-un

Meaning: An extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books.

Example: The schoolmaster was esteemed as a man of great erudition.

* * * * *

WITTICISMnoun

Pronounced: WIT-ti-ciz-um

Meaning: A clever or amusing expression.

Example: The careful use of a witticism in Kevin’s speech helped hold the attention of the listeners.

* * * * *

CHURLISHadjective

Pronounced: CHUR-lish

Meaning: Difficult to work with or deal with.

Example: Although he was a brilliant conductor, Toscanini could be churlish at times.